Career Cube Blog

We’ve all wondered what’s the fine line between following up and stalking. You had a great interview, you loved the company, the offices, even the pattern in the rug. You’re sure that it’s fate-you’re MEANT to work there! You even had great rapport with the interviewer. A jobseeker who came to my meetup meeting this week asked this same question. He’s a very successful, more senior candidate, and he was trying to figure out how much is too much?

But then several hours go by, and they don’t call, that turns into a whole day, and then another, and another-and you’re wondering why they didn’t feel that “magic” that was flying through the air.

Sound a little like a great date?

When you have that kind of connection, it kind of is. But also like following up after a perfect date, you want to do it in a way that shows you’re interested but not desperate or clingy.

It’s appropriate to send your interviewers a Thank You note the day after your interview to show your interest in the company and the position.

Then to keep from going crazy and slipping into stalker-mode, get out your calendar and mark off a day that is a week after the date of your last interview with that company. This is the date that you can follow-up with the interviewer if you still haven’t heard from them. Putting this on your calendar will keep you from being tempted to contact them sooner (i.e. stalk). To you follow up with them you have several options. One-you can send an email, Two–call them during business hours, or Three-call them outside of business hours and leave a message. You want to keep it brief to just say that you’re just touching base, you know that these decisions can end up taking longer than anticipated, but that you’re still interested in the position.

If a few weeks go by, and you still haven’t heard from them, BUT there definitely was chemistry between you and the interviewer, it’s OK to follow up with them again. You can let them know that you assume the position has been filled, but that you’re still interested in any other positions they feel you would be qualified for at the company. You stand a better chance of this working if you genuinely got along well with the interviewer. There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a hot lead, but at least you’ll feel as if you explored every lead. If there is an open position or another hiring manager, your call would remind them of the great rapport you shared and if they don’t sense any animosity from you for not getting the job, they could be in a position to help you.

When following up with interviewers, keep in mind the do unto others rule. Put yourself in their position of a busy executive trying to find good, qualified candidates and determine what approach would seem the most polite, interested, and least intrusive and let that be your guide.

And yes, being a pest can cost you the job. As a hiring manager, I’ll call people who are qualified for the job. Knowing that a candidate is interested enough to call after they send the resume is great! Getting a daily or every other day call from them is not. It seems like you don’t have a life or any other opportunities. It’s annoying. Stick to a schedule, and if a company feels you’re a good fit–no worries–they’ll call you.

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